Pourer



July 11, 1967 CLARE 3,330,450

POURER Filed Aug. 3, 1965 INVENTOR.

Geo rge C I a re AT TORNEY United States Patent Plastics Company, Newark, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 476,809 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-479) This invention relates in general to a pourer construction, and more specifically to a pourer construction for use as an in-bottle pourer for dispensing a fluid or liquid therefrom.

Heretofore, difiiculty has been encountered in pouring a fluid or liquid from a container, as for example a bottle or the like, into a glass. This difliculty is particularly aggravated when the liquid is attempted to be dispensed from a container or bottle having a relatively large size opening, as for example a gallon or half-gallon jug. This was because the mouth opening of such containers is so large that in dispensing the liquid therefrom upon tilting of the container, the liquid generally surges out in an uncontrolled manner out through the mouth opening. For this reason much of the liquid being dispensed was generally spilled beyond the periphery of the glass into which the liquid was being poured in dispensing the liquid directly from containers having relatively large openings into a small glass.

Also, pourers heretofore utilized, in an effort to obviate this difliculty, were constructed so that they could be applied to the neck portion of the bottle or container only after the original cap had been removed. Consequently, after each pouring operation, it was necessary to remove the pourer and recap the container with its original closure to prevent evaporation or accidental spillage of the liquid.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to obviate the foregoing disadvantages by providing an improved pourer construction which can be utilized as an in-bottle pourer and which when in place will not interfere with structure of the cap or closure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourer construction which can be readily fitted into the mouth opening of the bottle, and which is specifically constructed and arranged to define separate and distinct liquid and air venting passages to achieve an uninterrupted, spill-proof, fluid flow in a dispensing position of the fluid from the container.

Another feature of this invention resides in a pourer construction which is provided with means to prevent the surging of the liquid out therethrough upon the dispensing of a liquid from its container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourer construction in which drain openings are provided so that the last remnants of the liquid within the container can be dispensed therefrom through the pourer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourer construction which is relatively simple in construction, can be inexpensively fabricated, and which is positive in construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an mbottle pourer constructed and arranged so that the regular closure of the container can be readily threaded over the neck of the container with the pourer in place therein.

The foregoing objects, and other features and advantages of this invention are attained by a pourer construction which is readily adapted to be fitted into the mouth opening of a container or bottle and the like. The pourer comprises a tubular member having a d1ameter which is less than that of the opening of the bottle adapted to receive the same. A laterally extending flange is connected intermediate the ends of the tubular member to 3,330,450 Patented July 11, 1967 define a closure for the bottle opening. The flange is provided with a means whereby the pourer may be detachably secured to the mouth opening of the container. A partitioning means extending substantially co-extensively the length of the tubular member is disposed within the tubular member to define an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage. Means connected to the lower end of the partitioning means and extending below the lower end of the tubular member forms a battle to prohibit surging of the fluid through the liquid flow passage upon a dispensing operation. Means circumferentially spaced about the tubular member are provided to define drain openings which connect the interior of the container into communication with the passageway of the tubular member so that last remnants of the liquid contained within a bottle may be readily dispensed or drained therefrom when the bottle is disposed in a dispensing position.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of an improved pourer construction which can be readily utilized as an in-bottle pourer which is specifically constructed and arranged so as to define separate and distinct air venting passages and liquid flow passages which are particularly arranged so that they are rendered operative regardless of the position in which the container is held during a dispensing operation.

Another feature of this invention resides in a pourer construction having means defining an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage which is rendered operative in any dispensing position of the container.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved pourer construction with drain openings which permits draining the last remnants of a liquid from the container in which such pourer is utilized.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a sectional view of a pourer construction of the instant invention, like along line 1-1 of FIGURE 2; and as applied to the mouth opening of a container or bottle.

FIGURE 2 is a top tion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical view of a modified pourer construction having portions thereof shown in section as taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 is a top plane view of the construction of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a pourer 10 embodying the concepts of the instant invention, as applied in the mouth or neck opening 11 of a container 12, as for example a bottle or the like. In the illustrated form, the neck portion of the container may be provided with an external threaded portion 13 to receive a screw cap or closure 14 of conventional construction.

In accordance with this invention, the pourer 10 of the embodiment disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises a tubular member 15 which is adapted to be inserted into the mouth opening 11 of the bottle 12. The diameter of the tubular member 15, which extends into the container, is substantially less than that of the mouth opening 11. A laterally extending flange 16 is interconnected intermediate the ends of the tubular member 15 to define a closure for the open mouth of the container. As shown, a circumscribing depending skirt 17 is integrally formed with the flange 16 of the pourer. The inner periphery of the skirt is provided with an inwardly projecting beaded portion 18 which facilitates the frictional securement of the pourer 10 to the neck of the bottle which is usually formed with a circumscribing bead. With theconstruction described, it will be apparent that plan view of the pourer construcmodified pourer the pourer can be readily detachably secured by frictional engagement to the upper end of a container.

Means are disposed within the tubular member to partition the same into an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage. In the illustrated form of the invention of FIGURE 1, the partitioning means comprises an inner tubular member 19 which extends substantially co-extensively the length of the outer tubular member 15. The inner tubular member 19 is preferably concentrically disposed with respect to the outer tubular member 15, and is maintained in spaced relationship thereto by a plurality of radially extending connectors or spiders 20 which interconnect the inner and outer tubular members 15, 19 respectively adjacent the respective lower ends thereof. Accordingly, the inner tubular member 19 defines with the outer tubular member 15 an annular passageway 21 which forms the air venting passage when the container is tilted to a dispensing position. The passageway 22 defined by the inner tubular member 15 forms the fluid flow passageway through which the liquid is dispensed when the container is tilted in a dispensing position.

In accordance with this invention, a baffle means 23 is connected to the lower end of the pourer so as to be disposed in spaced relationship to the inlet to passage 22 to prohibit surging of the liquid out through theliquid V passageway 22. As shown, the baifle means 23 comprises a 'disc which is connected substantially parallel to the bottom or inlet end of the inner tubular member 19 and in spaced relationship by a plurality of elongated connectors 24. Accordingly, the baflie may be separately formed and connected to the tubular member 19 or alternately be integrally formed therewith. The arrangement is such that the outside diameter of the baflle is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the inner tubular member 19 to which it is connected.

In order to provide the dispensing of the last remnants of the liquid contained within the bottle or container 12, a plurality of drain openings 25 are formed in the tubular member 15, adjacent and immediately below the flange portion 16 of the pourer 10. In the illustrated form of the invention, a plurality of such drain openings 25 are circumferentially spaced about the outer tubular member. Accordingly, the drain openings 25 connect the 7 area 26 of the container 12 between the outer tubular member 15 and the neck of the container, and the air venting passage 21 defined by the annular space between the inner and outer tubular members 15 and 19. Accordingly, it will be noted that when the container of .FIG. 1 is disposed in its dispensing position, that is tilted with respect to the horizontal, that the remnants of the liquid collecting in the neck of the bottle between it and the tubular portion of the pourer can be dispensed through the drain opening 25. If desired, the tubular member may be provided with an outwardly flared lip portion 27, about the upper end thereof.

In operation, it is to be noted that when the container 12, with the pourer 10 secured to the open end thereof, is tilted to a dispensing position, the initial surge of the liquid through the pourer 10 is retarded by the baflie means 23. Accordingly, as the air is vented to the interior of the container by means of passage 21 defined between the inner and outer tubular members, the liquid displaced by the air flowing into the container 12 is dispensed out through the passageway 22 defined by the inner tubular member 19. In this manner, it is to be noted that there is no interference between the 'air'venting into the container and the liquid dispensing therefrom. As a result, the gurgling or surging of the liquid as it is dispensed from the container is eliminated, and a smooth uniform stream is attained. Consequently, an operator can exercise more control over a pouring operation than was heretofore possible.

With a pourer 10 of the type herein disclosed, it is possible to pour from a relatively large container, as for example a gallon jug or the like, a quantity of liquid 4 without spilling or overshooting the glass or receptacle being filled.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the invention. In this form of the invention, the pourer 30 comprises a tubular member 31 which is adapted to be inserted into the neck opening of a bottle, as hereinbefore described with respect to FIG. 1. Connected intermediate the ends of the tubular member 31 is a skirted flange closure 32 which defines the means by which the mouth opening is sealed. The partitioning means of the modified form of the invention comprises a plurality of planar vertical partitions 33 that extend substantially coextensively the length of the tubular member 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the partitions 33 are arranged so as to define a plurality of segmented chambers or passageways 34 that extend substantially coextensively to the length of the tubular member.

In the illustrated form of the invention, three such partitions 33 are disposed at an angular distance of substantially apart so as to define three equal sized passages 34. As best seen in FIG. 3, the partitions 33 extend below the lower end of the tubular member 31. Accordingly, a

surge means in the form of a baffle 35 is secured to the extended lower end portions of the partition. Thus, the surge baffle 35, which may be separately or integrally formed with respect to partitions 33, is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the lower end portions of the tubular member 31. It is to be noted that the upper ends of the partitions 33 terminate immediately below the upper end of the tubular member 31 which is outwardly flared With the pourer construction of FIGS. 3 and 4 inserted and secured to the mouth opening of the bottle in a manner similar to that described with respect to FIG. 1, tipping the container to a dispensing position enables one of the passageways 34 defined to function as the means for venting the container, and the other remaining passageways 34 form a flow path by which the displaced liquid is dispensed. With this arrangement, the position the pourer is disposed in dispensing becomes immaterial. One or two of the passageways 34 will always function as a liquid dispensing means, with the remaining passageways 34 forming the other necessary air venting means.

Accordingly, from the foregoing, it will be apparent that the respective embodiments 10 and 30 disclosed herein are rendered operative regardless of the manner in which the bottle is held for dispensing the liquid therefrom. Consequently, in any position of dispensing, the respective pourers 10 and 30 described are constructed so that air is vented into the bottle simultaneously as the liquid displaced thereby is being poured out therefrom Without interference, to thus result in a smooth, wellpendable with the container utilized in conjunction therewith.

While the instant invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the instant invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pourer adapted to be fitted to the mouth opening of a container whereby said pourer is rendered operative regardless of the position in which the container is tilted when pouring the contents thereof, comprising:

a tubular member adapted to be inserted into the mouth opening of a container, said tubular member having a diameter substantially less than that of the mouth opening of the container,

a laterally extending flange connected intermediate the ends of said tubular member to define an annular closure for the mouth opening portion of said container circnmscribing said tubular member,

partitioning means extending substantially coextensively the length of said tubular member to define within said tubular member fluid flow passages including an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage,

baffie means connected to said partitioning means, said bathe means extending below said tubular member and said partitioning means to define an anti-surge baflle spaced from the end of said partitioning means and said tubular member,

said tubular member having circumferentially spaced drain openings formed therein,

said drain openings being located immediately below said flange for communicating the interior of said container to said airflow passage, said drain openings permitting the drainage of the last remnants of the liquid content of said container,

said partitioning means including an inner tubular member concentrically disposed in space relationship to the first-mentioned tubular member, and

means for maintaining said tubular members in space concentric relationship wherein said inner tubular member normally defines the liquid flow passage and the spacing between said tubular members normally defining the air venting passage,

and said baffle means including an imperforate disc having a diameter less than the internal diameter of said inner tubular means,

and means for fixedly connecting said disc in space relationship to the bottom of said inner tube memher.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is provided with a neck having external threads to define a mouth opening for receiving the pourer, and a cap adapted to thread to said neck with the pourer in position therein.

3. A pourer adapted to be fitted to the mouth opening of a container whereby said pourer is rendered opera- 5 tive regardless of the position in which the container is tilted when pouring, comprising:

a tubular member adapted to be inserted into the opening of said container, said tubular member having a diameter substantially less than that of the mouth opening,

a laterally extending flange connected intermediate the ends of said tubular member to define an annular closure for the mouth opening portion of said container circumscribing said tubular member,

a plurality of planar partitioning means extending substantially coextensively the length of said tubular member and each extending radially from the central axis to the internal periphery of said tubular member to define Within said tubular member fluid fiow passages including an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage,

means connected to said partitioning means and extending below said tubular member and said partitioning means to define an anti-surge baifle spaced from the end of said tubular member,

said tubular member having circumferentially spaced drain openings formed therein, said drain openings being located immediately below said flange for communicating the interior of said container to said fluid flow passages,

said partitioning means including a vertical partition member extending longitudinally of said tubular member to section the same into a plurality of fluid flow passages to define an air venting passage and a liquid flow passage, and

said vertical partitions extending below the lower end of said tubular member, and said baifle means including an imperforate disc fixedly connected to the extended inner end of said vertical partitions Whereby said disc is spaced from said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,695 9/ 1959 Kirsehenbaum 222566 X 1,006,923 10/1911 Du Pont et al 222-566 X 2,750,063 6/1956 Opsitnik '222571 X 3,098,586 5/1963 Wasserberg 222-478 X 3,117,701 1/1964 Stull 222571 X FOREIGN PATENTS 622,022 4/ 1963 Canada. 712,658 10/ 1941 Germany.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POURER ADAPTED TO BE FITTED TO THE MOUTH OPENING OF A CONTAINER WHEREBY SAID POURER IS RENDERED OPERATIVE REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION IN WHICH THE CONTAINER IS TILTED WHEN POURING THE CONTENTS THEREOF, COMPRISING: A TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE MOUTH OPENING OF A CONTAINER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY, LESS THAN THAT OF THE MOUTH OPENING OF THE CONTAINER, A LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO DEFINE AN ANNULAR CLOSURE FOR THE MOUTH OPENING PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, PARTITIONING MEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVELY THE LENGTH OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO DEFINE WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER FLUID FLOW PASSAGES INCLUDING AN AIR VENTING PASSAGE AND A LIQUID FLOW PASSAGE, BAFFLE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PARTITIONING MEANS, SAID BAFFLE MEANS EXTENDING BELOW SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID PARTITIONING MEANS TO DEFINE AN ANTI-SURGE BAFFLE SPACED FROM THE END OF SAID PARTITIONING MEANS AND SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED DRAIN OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN, SAID DRAIN OPENINGS BEING LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID FLANGE FOR COMMUNICATING THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER TO SAID AIRFLOW PASSAGE, SAID DRAIN OPENINGS PERMITTING THE DRAINAGE OF THE LAST REMNANTS OF THE LIQUID CONTENT OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID PARTITIONING MEANS INCLUDING AN INNER TUBULAR MEMBER CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED TUBULAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS IN SPACE CONCENTRIC RELATIONSHIP WHEREIN SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER NORMALLY DEFINES THE LIQUID FLOW PASSAGE AND THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS NORMALLY DEFINING THE AIR VENTING PASSAGE, AND SAID BAFFLE MEANS INCLUDING AN IMPERFORATE DISC HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEANS, AND MEANS FOR FIXEDLY CONNECTING SAID DISC IN SPACE RELATIONSHIP TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID INNER TUBE MEMBER. 